Rourkela: A massive demonstration was held in Sundargarh district Friday demanding a CBI investigation into the back-to-back deaths of two female government officials who were tribals. Besides leaders of various tribal organisations, Sundargarh BJP MLA Kusum Tete, Rajgangpur Congress MLA CS Raazen Ekka, and former legislator George Tirkey took part in the demonstration. Assistant Collector Sushmita Minz, 35, was found dead under mysterious circumstances in the pond of Centurion Park in Plant Site police station area in Rourkela September 19. She was posted at the Rourkela ADM’s office, officials said. Assistant Sub-Inspector Alice Narmi Lugun, 37, of the Uditnagar police station October 1 went to the spot where Minz’s body was found. She felt uneasy and was taken to a nearby hospital where doctors declared her dead, they said.
Families of both the officers alleged that they were murdered. Holding placards, hundreds of tribals tried to gherao the Collector’s office. “We don’t have any faith in the state police. So, we demand that the cases should be handed over to the CBI,” said Tete. She said that she would raise the issue in the Assembly during the Winter Session. The Congress MLA said, “Until we get justice, we will continue our protest.” Meanwhile, Minz’s husband Sushil Topno was quizzed by the police for two hours in connection with the death. He is a banker by profession and is currently posted in Chhattisgarh.
Notably, it is for the first time that the deceased’s husband has been quizzed by the police in connection with the incident. Topno and Minz got married a few months back but things didn’t go well between them, officials said. A divorce petition was also filed in the court, they said. In fact, September 16, the day she checked into the hotel, she had a divorce proceeding in court to attend. Sushmita’s death has brought great humiliation for the administration here as the family directly raised their fingers at the ADM Rourkela and Sundargarh Collector for their involvement in her death.
